When to plant Onion sets in North Carolina

In spring, from Jan 15 – Mar 10 in Goldsboro to Mar 10 – Apr 10 in Waynesville.

In fall, from Oct 1 – Dec 1 in Apex to Nov 1 – Dec 31 in Wilmington.

USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Onion sets planting dates by place in North Carolina
PlaceSpringFall
AlbemarleFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
ApexFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
ArchdaleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
AsheboroMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
AshevilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
BelmontFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
BooneMar 10 – Apr 10Spring-planted
BurlingtonFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
CarrboroFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
CaryFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Chapel HillFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
CharlotteFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
ClaytonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ClemmonsMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ConcordFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
CorneliusFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
DavidsonFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
DurhamFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
EdenMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Elizabeth CityFeb 15 – Mar 20Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
ElonFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
FayettevilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Fuquay-VarinaFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
GarnerFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
GastoniaFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
GoldsboroJan 15 – Mar 10Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
GrahamFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
GreensboroFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
GreenvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
HarrisburgFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
HavelockFeb 1 – Mar 20Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
HendersonMar 10 – Apr 1Not listed
HendersonvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Spring-planted
HickoryFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
High PointFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Holly SpringsMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Hope MillsFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
HuntersvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
Indian TrailFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
JacksonvilleFeb 1 – Mar 20Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
KannapolisFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
KernersvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Kings MountainFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
KinstonFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
KnightdaleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LaurinburgFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
LelandFeb 1 – Mar 20Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
LenoirMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LewisvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LexingtonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LincolntonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LumbertonFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
MatthewsFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
MebaneFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
Mint HillFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
MonroeFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
MooresvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
MorgantonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
MorrisvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
Mount AiryMar 10 – Apr 1Spring-planted
Mount HollyFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
New BernFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
NewtonFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
PinehurstFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
PinevilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
RaleighFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
ReidsvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Roanoke RapidsFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Rocky MountFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
RolesvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
SalisburyMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
SanfordMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ShelbyMar 1 – Apr 1Spring-planted
SmithfieldFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Southern PinesFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Spring LakeFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
StallingsFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
StatesvilleMar 10 – Apr 1Spring-planted
SummerfieldFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
TarboroFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
ThomasvilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Wake ForestFeb 15 – Mar 20Not listed
WaxhawFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
WaynesvilleMar 10 – Apr 10Spring-planted
WeddingtonFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
WendellFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
WilmingtonFeb 1 – Mar 20Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon
WilsonFeb 1 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
Winston-SalemFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
WintervilleFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now
ZebulonFeb 15 – Mar 20Oct 1 – Dec 1Now

Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for onion sets.